Combined tempo and dynamics controller for pneumatic musical instrument players.



F. L. YOUNG.

COMBINED TEMPO-AND DYNAMICS CONTROLLER FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTPLAYERS; APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. I912. RENEWED MAR. 12,1915.

1,159,461, Patented NOV- 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- F. L. YOUNG. COMBINED TEMPO AND DYNAMICS CONTROLLERFOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY II. I912- REIIEWED MAR. 12,1915. 1,159,461.Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 3? WIN 5:6 39

es I nventor: E y I fla v W. WM 1 Atty I FRANCIS L. YOUNG, on NEW roan,N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 AEOLIAN GOIs'IPANY, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., A.CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED TEMPO AND DYNAMICS CONTROLLER FOE PNEUIJIATIC I1IUSICAL-INSTRUMENT PLAYERS.

Application filed. July 11, 1812, Serial No. 708,775. Renewed March 12,1315.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. Yooxo, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Tempo and Dynamics Controllers for PneumaticMusical-Instrument Players, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved combinedtempo and dynamics controller for pneumatic mu sical instrument players,which is simple in construction, compact, strong, durable and reliablein action and easily manipulated.

In the accompanying drawin s in which like letters of reference indicatelike parts in all the figures:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the key bed ofa player piano provided with one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic vertical sectional view showing one embodiment of myinvention, operating in conjunction with the parts shown in Fig. 1,parts being broken away and others in section. Fig. 3 is a detail sideview of the controller bellows, parts being broken away.

At the front of the key bed 1, above which the keys 2 are pivoted thereis provided the fixed key slip 2 and below the same the movable key slip3 is pivoted to the key-bed 1, and this movable kej-slip is provided onits inner surface with the recess 4- all in the well known manner.

The tempo lever 5 which controls or shifts a tempo valve of any wellknown or approved construction is pivoted to the underside of thekey-bed 1 at 6 and its front end projects through an inclined opening 7in the key-bed and fixed key-slip 2. A shaft 8 is guided to turn axiallyin a collar 9 on the inclined part 10 of the lever 5, and on it a sleeve11 is mounted to slide lengthwise which sleeve is mounted to turn in acollar 12 near the outer end of the inclined part 10. The sleeve 11 isslotted longitudinally as at 13 for receiving a guide pin 14 projectingfrom the shaft 3 so that the shaft 8 must participate in the axialrotations of the sleeve 11. For use, when the hinged key-slip 3 is swungdown, the sleeve is pulled out- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 13,883.

ward and it, as well as the shaft 8, can be turned axially by means ofthe handle knob 15 on the outer end of the sleeve 11 and, when thehinged key-slip 3 is to be swung up the sleeve 11 can be pushed downwardand inward on the shaft 8 so that when the keyslip 3 is swung up theknob 15 is within the recess 4-. By a universal joint 16 the lower innerend of the shaft 8 is pivotally connected with the front end of a shaft17 mounted rotatively in collars 18 on the tempo lever 5 and the innerend f the shaft 17 is provided with an arm 19 connected with one end ofa connecting rod 20.

As the coupled s iafts 8 and 17 are mounted on the tempo lever they canbe swung laterally with the tempo lever without producing anysubstantial effect on the arm 19 at the inn r endof the shaft 17, asthis inner end is at the pivot 6 of the tempo lever. At the same timeand while moving the tempo lever laterally the shaft 17 can be turnedaxially by means of the handle knob 15 to bring the arm 19 intodifferent positions and to move the connecting rod 20 and the partsoperated thereby into different positions.

The connecting rod 20 has the end opposite the one pivoted to the arm 19pivotally connected with a lever 21 pivoted at 22 to a part of theinstrument and terminating at its swinging end in a laterally projectingpin 23 which is located between two levers and respectively, pressed bysuitable springs 26 and 27 respectively against opposite sides of a stop28 which is below the pin 23 on the lever 21. The lever 25 is pivoted at29 and the lever 24: is secured on the projecting end of a rock shaft 30carrying an arm 31 in a spring pressed controller bellows 32 of the typewell known in pneumatic musical instrument playing attachm nts, and thisarm 31 is pivotally connected with one end of the controlling knifevalve 33 of the well known type, which valve has its opposite endoperatively connected with the movable board 34 of the regulatingbellows 32. The lever 25 is connected by a connecting rod 35 with a Dvalve resting against a slide valve 36 having two ports 37 and 38 whichcan communicate with two ports 39 and 40 respectively, of which theformer 39 is connected with a wind conducting pipe 41 leading tothe'main suction chamber (not shown) and the port 40 is connected with atube l2 leading to a bellows 43, the movable board 4st of which hassecured to it an arm a5, which bears on the underside of a block or stud46 secured to a rod t'l which serves for shifting the hammer rail of thepiano so that when the bellows as is collapsed the hammer rail isadjusted or moved to shittall the hammers of the piano (not shown) insuch manner as to produce softer blows, by any well known contrivance.The movable board at of the bellows 43 is connected by a connecting rod48'with one end of an angle lever-49 pivoted at. 50, the opposite end ofwhich is connected by the connecting rod 51, with the slide valve 36. Vlhen softer playing is desired the sleeve 11 is turned in onedirection byits handle knob 15 and thereby the shaft 17 is rotated and the lever 25is moved by the pin 23 on the lever 21 to the right, Fig. 2 and therebythe D valve 55 is moved to the right on the slide valve 36 to such anextent that the ports 37 and 38 are brought into communication and theair is exhausted from the bellows 43 whereby the hammer rail is movedinto position for softer playing. By the collapsing of the bel lows 43th slide valve 36 is moved to the right, without disturbing thecommunicaion of its port 38 with the port ill) and without disturbingthe communication of the ports 37 and 38 by means of the D valve 55.When normal playing is again desired the handle 15 of the sleeve 11 isturned back to normal, whereby the pin 23 on the lever 21 is brought tonormal position permitting the spring 27 to throw the lever 25 againstthe stop 28 and thereby the D-valve is moved to the left, whereby thecommunication be tween the tubes 4:1 and 4-2 is interrupted and the port38 opened to atmosphere, as

the slidevalve 36 was moved to the right by the collapsing of thebellows 43; The bellows 4:3 can now expand under the action of theweight of the bar as air is being admitted thereto through the'port 38and tube 4 2 and as the bellows 4L3 expands the slide valve 36 is movedto the left and brought into the position shown, where it remains untiladiustment is again made for soft playing in the manner described above.When louder playing is desired the'handle knob 15 of the sleeve 11 is soturned as to move the lever. 24 to the left Fig. 2, by means of the pin23 on the lever 21 and thereby the valve 33 is opened to a greaterextent so as to produce louder playing in the well known manner and whenthe handle knob 15 is turned back to normal the spring 26. brings thelever 24 against the stop 28 and the valve 33 back to normal to operatein the well known manner.

I do not claim as my invention the means shown in Fig. 2, forcontrolling the exhausting of air from the bellows 4:3 or the admissionof air into the same, these means consisting of the slide valve and theU- shaped valve or its equivalents in connection with the tube leadingto the suction chamber and to said bellows 43.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In an automatic player, the combination of aplurality of means for operating expression devices, a control handleextending in a direction from the back of the instrument to the front,mountedto be adjustable bodily from one position to another in theinstrument, and also to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis,connecting means between the handle and one of said means for operatingexpression devices to operate it from the bodily movement of the handle,and connecting means between the handle and another of said means foroperating expression devices to operate it from the rotary movement ofthe'handle.

2. In combination with an automatic player, a control handle extendingin a direction from' the back of the instrument.

to the front, said handle being mounted to swing about a rear pivot andbelng connected to control the player in partby so doing, said handle inaddition being romeans between said handle and the instrument forcontrolling it from the axial rotation of the handle in either directionindependently. l. In an automatic player, the combination of a pluralityof means for operating expression devices, a control handle mounted tobe rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and connecting means betweensaid handle and said means for operating expression devices operatingone or the other of said devices independently depending on thedirection of axial rotation of the handle.

5. In an automatic player, the combination of a plurality of means foroperating expression devices, a control handle mounted to be rotatableabout itslongitudinal axis, and connecting means between said handle andsaid means for operatingexpressiondevices operating one or the other ofsaid means independently depending on the direction of axial rotation ofthe handle; and means causing the handle to seek a normal position ofaxial rotation.

6. In an automatic player, the combination of a plurality of means foroperating expression devices, a control handle mounted to be rotatableabout its longitudinal axis, and connecting means between said handleand said means for operating expression devices operating one or theother of said means independently depending on the direction of axialrotation of the handle; and means causing the handle to seek a normalposition of axial rotation at which the playing is normal in dynamiceffect, the means for operating expression device operated by rotatingthe handle in one direction giving a. less than normal dynamic effect;and that operated by the rotation of the handle in the oppositedirection giving a greater than normal dynamic eifect.

7. In an automatic player, the combination of a plurality of means foroperating expression devices, a control handle mounted to be rotatableabout its longitudinal axis, and connecting means between said handleand said means for operating expression devices operating one or theother of said means independently depending on the direction of axialrotation of the handle; and means causing the handle to seek anormalposition of axial rotation at which the playing is normal in dynamiceffect, the expression device operated by rotating the handle in onedirection giving decreasing below-normal dynamic eflects, and thatoperated by the rotation of the handle in opposite direction givingincreasing abovenormal dynamic effects.

8. In an automatic player, the combination with a laterally movablehandle for adjusting partof the player mechanism which at the same timeis rotatable about its longitudinal axis, two independent mechanisms forrespectively gradually increasing and gradually decreasing the playingforce of the playing mechanism operated independently by the rotation ofthe handle in one direction or another whereby the player is enabled bythe use of only one hand to gradually increase or decrease the playingforce to any desired degree and at the same time to operate mechanism ofsaid player other than those relating to the increase or decrease of theplaying force.

9. In an automatic player, the combination with a laterally movablehandle for controlling part of the player mechanism, two independentmeans for operating mechanisms for producing changes in the dynamics ofthe player, said handle also being rotatable about its longitudinalaxis, connections between said independent means for operating dynamicmechanisms and said handle, one of said means being operated by rotatingthe handle in one direction and the other means being operated byrotating it in the opposite direction.

10. In an automatic player, the combination of a laterally movablehandle for controlling part of the player mechanism, said handle alsobeing rotatable about its longitudinal axis to control another part ofthe player mechanism, and an adjustable end piece on said handle toextend it conveniently to suit the operators hand.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 19th day of June, A. D. 1912.

FRANCIS L. YOUNG.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE B. KELLY, LOUISA AGKERMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

